8 classic games in need of Sony's HD treatment

If there’s one thing PlayStation 3 owners can’t get enough of, it’s high-definition remake packages. Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen a number of classics get the HD makeover, including Devil May Cry, God of War, Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper and Tomb Raider. Several more are on the way, including Ratchet and Clank and the Resident Evil Chronicles releases. But with that, we can’t help but think that a few franchises are missing from this high definition resolution.

So with that, we came up with a list of eight franchises that could use some sort of repackaging with classic games touched up for today’s gaming standard. We probably didn’t get all of your favorites, but there are a number of them we think you’ll be pleased with.

Sony, we hope you’re listening. Give us these HD collections now!

Grand Theft Auto

We already know that Rockstar is hard at work on bringing a couple of PS2 favorites to the PlayStation Network, including Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. But why stop there? Why not give a good once-over to the games that have already been released, polishing them in high definition and re-releasing them in a huge compilation that will get people excited for Grand Theft Auto V? We could easily see a package that includes part three, Vice City, San Andreas and the Stories spin-offs, selling for about $40 a pop and intriguing people to run through cities for hours at a time on an unstoppable rampage. Rockstar would definitely make mad bank on it.

Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy VII HD has been teased for years — YEARS — by Square Enix, with nothing official ever coming down the pike. But why not? The original game sold wondrously on the PS One, as did the PSN re-release. And Final Fantasy VIII and IX weren’t too shabby either. So why not rework them for a new release with high definition extras and a number of options to make RPG players fall in love again? And while we’re at it, Square…

Kingdom Hearts

Another franchise that’s been in need of a sequel for a long time (one is coming to 3DS next month, but that’s not the platform fans were looking to get it on), Kingdom Hearts has enchanted millions of gamers, old and young alike, with its mixture of Square and Disney universes. A remake of the original PS2 games definitely wouldn’t be out of the question, with touched-up visuals and plenty of quests to keep players busy until Kingdom Hearts 3 eventually arrives. It’d certainly be a seller, that’s for sure.

Onimusha

Since Devil May Cry got the HD treatment a couple of months back, and Okami HD is getting similar treatment later this year, then why not give some love to a samurai? The Onimusha trilogy was a great one over on the PS2, complete with a third chapter that included a bad-ass Jean Reno-played character. Seeing these games again with beautiful HD visuals and plenty of thrilling gameplay would be a welcome sight. And, oh, the carnage. Gotta love it.